Pilomotor shaving compositions and method of using same



United States Patent 3,296,076 PILOMOTOR SHAVING COMPOSITIONS AND METHOD OF USING SAME Otto Thoma, Ingelheim (Rhine), Germany, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Boehringer Ingelheim G.m.b.H., Ingelheim am Rhine, Germany, a corporation of Germany No Drawing. Filed June 11, 1962, Ser. No. 201,276 6 Claims. (Cl. 167-85) This invention relates to shaving compositions, and especially to improved shaving compositions adapted for use in conjunction with blade razors as distinguished from electric razors.

More particularly, the present invention relates to alkaline blade razor shaving compositions, such as shaving soaps, shaving sticks, brush-type shaving creams, brushless shaving creams and aerosol shaving foams, which are composed of the customary ingredients for such compositions and, in addition, contain a compound which is stable under alkaline conditions and produces a temporary pilomotor effect upon the hairs of the facial beard.

Compositions comprising an ingredient which produces a pilomotor effect on the facial beard are well known. However, the concept of such compositions has heretofore been capable of application exclusively to pre-shave lotions adapted for use prior to shaving with electric dryshavers. The pilomotor action of such pre-shave lotions is caused by the fact that the arrecuts pilorurn (hair follicle muscle) is contracted upon contact with the lotion and remains contracted for a period of time sufficient to last through the shaving operation or a little longer. This contraction of the arrectus pilorum causes the hair stubble to be pushed further above the skin surface line by about 0.2-0.3 mm., so that the beard hair can be cut in this position by the electric razor. When the contracting effects of the lotion wear off after completion of the shaving operation and the tonus of the hair follicle muscle returns to normal, the cut beard hair retracts to a point substantially below the skin surface line, giving the effect of what is commonly referred to as a close shave. There is the further advantage that men with a heavy beard and rapid beard growth can maintain a presentable appearance for longer periods of time and need to shave only once a day instead of twice.

A number of compounds having a pilomotor effect have been proposed and investigated (Arzneirnittelforschung, 4 (1954), 63-66). However, the common disadvantage of those investigated compounds is that they are highly unstable under even mildly alkaline conditions. Hence, their employment as pilomotor ingredients has been necessarily confined to compositions which are acidic in character, notably to acidic pre-shave lotions adapted for use in conjunction with electric dry-shavers. Any attempt to incorporate them into blade razor shaving compositions, such as shaving soaps or shaving creams of the brush or brushless type, which are alkaline in character, has met with failure because they decompose under the alkaline conditions existing in blade razor shaving compositions, forming decomposition products having no pilomotor effect whatsoever.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stable, alkaline shaving composition which produces not only the beard-softening effect of ordinary alkaline shaving compositions but also a pilomotor effect.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stable ingredient having a pilomotor effect for alkaline shaving compositions, such as shaving soaps and creams of the brush or brushless type.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

I have discovered that 2-(3-hydroxy-phenyl)-morpholine, that is, the compound of the formula I OH and its dermatologically acceptable, non-toxic acid addition salts produce excellent pilomotor effects and are stable under alkaline conditions, and that the above objects and advantages may be achieved by incorporating 2-(3'-hydroXy-phenyD-morpholine or its non-toxic acid addition salts into customary alkaline shaving compositions, such as shaving soaps and creams of the brush, brushless or aerosol foam type.

By customary alkaline shaving compositions I mean those blade razor shaving compositions which are essentially based on fatty acid soaps, that is, those described on pages 422437 and 833 of Cosmetics, Science and Technology, edited by Edward Sagarin, Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York (1957). However, it should be understood that my invention may be practiced in conjunction with any alkaline shaving composition, regardless of whether the composition is based on fatty acid soaps or not. The 2-(3'-hydroxy-phenyl)-morpholine or its nontoxic acid addition salts are advantageously added to and blended into customary alkaline shaving compositions in amounts of 0.01 to 10%, preferably 0.1 to 1%, by Weight based on the total weight of the shaving composition.

Alkaline shaving compositions thus modified with 2- (3'-hydroXy-phenyl)-morpholine or its non-toxic acid addition salts have the advantage of being completely stable even over long periods of storage. Moreover, the morpholine derivative component imparts to such compositions pilomotor properties in addition to the inherent beard-softening properties. The pilomotor effect of alkaline shaving compositions modified in accordance with the present invention is characterized by an extraordi narily rapid onset and satisfactory duration throughout the blade shaving operation. I

The following examples shall further illustrate the present invention and enable others skilled in the art to understand it more completely. It should be understood, however, that my invention is not limited to these particular examples. The parts are parts by Weight.

EXAMPLE I Shaving soap in stick form The shaving soap stick is compounded in the usual manner from the following ingredients:

Water, q.s. ad 100.0.

3 EXAMPLE II Shaving soap in cream form The shaving soap cream is compounded in the usual manner from the following ingredients:

Parts 2-(3'-hydroxy phenyl)-morpholine hydrochloride 0.5 Stearic acid 38.8 Coconut oil 9.7 Potassium hydroxide s 8.0 Sodium hydroxide 1.6 Glycerin 11.6 Perfume 0.3 p-Hydroxy-benzoic acid methyl ester 0.01 p-Hydroxy-benzoic acid propyl ester 0.02 Water, q.s. ad 100.00.

EXAMPLE III Brushless shave cream The brushless shave cream is compounded in the usual manner from the following ingredients:

Pre-shave cream The pre-shave cream is compounded in the usual manner from the following ingredients:

Parts 2-(3' hydroxy-phenyl) morpholine hydrochloride 0.3 Paraflin oil 30.0 Wool grease, anhydrous 3.0 Stearic acid 12.0 Isopropyl myristate 3.0 Triethanolamine 1.5 p-Hydroxy benzoic acid methyl ester 0.02 p-Hydroxy benzoic acid propyl ester 0.02 Perfume 0.2

Water, q.s. ad 100.00.

The mildly alkaline wet-shave compositions illustrated above containing 2-(3'-hydroxy-phenyl)-morpholine hydrochloride as the active pilomotor ingredient are stable over extended periods of time and exhibit exceltlent beard-softening and pilomotor effects. Of course, the quantity of pilomotor ingredient in these compositions may be varied within the percentage limits set forth above to meet particular requirements. Moreover, the active pilomotor ingredient according to the present invention may be incorporated into other alkaline shaving compositions with equal success. Finally, the hy- 4 drochloride may be replaced by the free base or by other. non-toxic,dermatologically or pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salts of 2-(3'-hydroxy-phenyl)-morpholine. Examples of such other acid addition salts are the hydrobromide, hydrogen iodide, sulfate, nitrate, succinate, maleate, tartrate, citrate and the like.

While I have illustrated my invention with the aid. of certain specific embodiments thereof, it will be readily apparent to others skilled in the art that my invention is not limited to these embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An alkaline shaving composition selected from the group consisting of shaving creams and shaving soaps, said composition having uniformly dispersed therethrough from 0.01 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of said composition, of a pilomotor acting compound selected from the group consisting of 2-(3'-hydroxy-phenyl)- morpholine and its dermatologically acceptable, non-toxic acid addition salts.

2. An alkaline shaving composition selected from the group consisting of shaving cream and shaving soaps said composition having uniformly dispersed therethrough 5. The method of producing a pilomotor eifect on the skin which comprises applying to the skin an alkaline shaving composition selected from the group consisting of shaving soaps and shaving creams, said composition having uniformly dispersed therethrough from 0.01 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of said composition, of a pilomotor acting compound selected from the group consisting of 2-(3'-hydroxy-phenyl)-morpholine and its dermatologically acceptable, non-toxic acid addition salts.

6. The method of producing a pilomotor effect on the skin which comprises applying to the skin an alkaline shaving composition selected from the group consisting of shaving soaps and shaving creams, said composition having uniformly dispersed therethrough from 0.01 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of said com- 1 position, of 2-(3'-hydroxy-phenyl) -morpholine hydro chloride.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 5/1957 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Arzneimittel Forschung, vol. 4, 1954, pp. 63-67.

JULIAN S. LEVITT, Primary Examiner.

FMNK CACCIAPAGLIA, Examiner.

ANNA P. FAGELSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ALKALINE SHAVING COMPOSITION SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SHAVING CREAMS AND SHAVING SOAPS, SAID COMPOSITION HAVING UNIFORMLY DISPERSED THERETHROUGH FROM 0.01 TO 10% BY WEIGHT, BASED ON THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF SAID COMPOSITION, OF A PILOMOTOR ACTING COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF 2-(3''-HYDROXY-PHENYL)MORPHOLINE AND ITS DERMATOLOGICALLY ACCEPTABLE, NON-TOXIC ACID ADDITION SALTS. 